By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
The New Bern Fireman’s Museum is the perfect microcosm of our town, in that it encapsulates, in miniature, the unique history, character and qualities of our community.
The museum, established in 1955, has roots reaching back to 1845, when the Atlantic Hook & Ladder Company became the first and oldest fire department in North Carolina, and one of the oldest fire departments in the United States. The Atlantic Company’s rival—the Button Company—was created in 1865 and comprised of Union soldiers that remained in New Bern after the Civil War; they were originally housed in the old City Hall building on Craven Street, across from Mitchell Hardware.
These two companies were fiercely competitive—but their ambition also drove them to greatness, with the Atlantic Company holding the world record for quick steam—that is until the Button Company stole the title away. The Button Company also held three world records in hose wagon competitions in the 1900s, and remarkably they remain unbroken today.
Despite their differences, the two companies merged in 1928, and began housing together at central station on Broad Street where the current museum sits. However, the spirit of fierce competition refused to die. Although they shared a physical space in a single firehouse, they insisted on using separate fire poles, separate staircases, and separate offices for the chiefs.
“It wasn’t until 2000 that the current mayor brought in the two chiefs and said ‘The war is over. The south lost. We are creating one unified firehouse from here forward.’ And so, the feud finally came to an end,” says Dave Finn, who is the New Bern Fireman’s Corporation President, and Friends of the New Bern Fireman’s Museum Board of Directors Chair.
In 2012, the Friends of the Museum began their herculean fundraising efforts to preserve and renovate the building and the fire equipment. The museum opened in 2017 and has hosted visitors from all 50 states and 32 countries. On average they have 20 adult guests a day, and many children, who love the fire trucks, the hats, and of course, Fred the Fire Horse, who could recognize different alarm tones and could travel to the fires by himself!
“The building that houses the museum is our greatest artifact,” says Dave, who is the former fire chief at Howells Fire Department in Middletown, NY. “I was a firefighter for 53 years, so as soon as I came here, it felt like home. Over the years, my hobby has been collecting real, historical firetrucks, and I have collected 5 pumpers and 2 ladder trucks ranging in age from 1938-1952.” Finn served in the Airforce as a firefighter and in the reserves before becoming a chief in New York.
“The New Bern Firemen’s Museum is unique in that it housed two different companies, but also that we have a fireman’s memorial park with a bell tower from an original alarm system that was in the five-points area, as well as recently adding a 9/11 memorial monument. The memorial was dedicated on April 3, 2022 and displays the twin towers in a 25 thousand pound structure. The historic city hall bell will be added to the park in the near future,” says Dave.
Joe Stuppiello, who has been the Chief of Staff for the museum since 2017 says, “Our museum is special in that our history with the fire companies mirrors the history of the civil war. Since 1928 the companies were divided but they managed to co-exist with alternating chiefs. We are also distinctive in that the trucks and equipment in the museum were actually used here in New Bern, which is not necessarily true in other fireman’s museums throughout the United States. But what makes us the most exceptional are the people here. New Bern people are the greatest in the world. They are cordial, wonderful people.”